Solar PV Advice
| Invest in the power of the sun with solar PV Thanks to the Government’s Feed in Tariff, hundreds of UK homeowners are now investing in solar PV panels and generating free electricity and tax free income. Yorkshire Energy Services has its own solar installations wing : YES Renewables, who are qualified and experienced technicians that specialise in installing solar PV systems for householders, Housing Associations and businesses. Get a free survey and quote today. |
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How does solar PV work
Solar photovoltaic panels, also known as solar PV panels, are made up of series of cells that create an electric field once exposed to daylight. The current is then passed through a module called an inverter that converts the energy into usable domestic electricity.
The strength of a solar PV system is measured in kilowatts. The term ‘kWp’ indicates the total amount of energy a system will produce in full sunlight. The more cells a system has the more sunlight it can access, therefore the more electricity it will produce.
Do solar panels only work in sunny weather?
Solar PV panels use daylight not sunlight, so as long as there is daylight your system will generate electricity. However on overcast days their power output will be reduced.
Does my roof need to be south facing?
You do not need a south facing roof for your home to be suitable for Solar PV, although this will produce the best results. It just needs a degree of direct sunlight. There are many factors that can affect the efficiency of solar panels including their angle, orientation and whether or not they are obstructed by shadows. Our installers are solar experts and will work with you to identify the most appropriate system for your home.
How much energy will solar PV panels produce?
There are many factors that can affect the amount of energy a solar PV system generates. Be assured that our surveyors will assess your property in great detail and provide realistic projections on the amount of energy your system will produce, helping you to make an informed choice.
If you know the orientation of your home, you can use YES Renewables’ online cash-back calculator to predict your likely energy generation and income.
What is the Feed in Tariff?
In April 2010 the Government launched the Feed-in-Tariff, where homeowners are financially rewarded over 25 years for generating electricity through renewable technology. Not only can solar PV customers produce their own free home grown electricity, but now get paid for using it.
The benefits of the Feed-in-Tariff:
1. Generation Payments
Your electricity provider will pay you 21p for every unit of electricity generated irrespective of whether you use the electricity in your home or not.
2. Export Payments
You will also receive 3.1p for every unit of generated electricity that is not utilised in the household. This excess electricity is automatically sent to the National Grid, so you are effectively selling your unused electricity back to your provider.
3. Electricity Savings
According to the Energy Saving Trust, a typical home PV system can produce around 50% of the electricity used by a household in a year. You will cut carbon emissions and reduce electricity bills considerably.
What will happen at the installation?
Scaffolding will usually be required and erected a day or two prior to the installation of the solar panels. Access will be required to your loft space, the consumer unit (fuse box) and the roof itself.
What maintenance will my system require?
Solar PV systems have no moving parts, therefore there is no maintenance/service required. An annual clean of the panels themselves by a window cleaner is recommended to maintain optimum efficiency.
What are the planning permission and building control regulations?
Provided that your property is not a listed building or situated in a green belt area, no planning permission is required. On the rare occasion that a roof requires strengthening work, an application can be made to building control with your Local Authority.
How long will the job take?
The time it takes to install solar PV panels can vary depending on property type, access and the size of system. Typical most installations are completed within 2 days. Our qualified installers will advice you on a realistic time scale before any work is carried out.
What guarantees do you provide?
Our solar Installers, YES Renewables are MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certified, ensuring professional and expert workmanship under an industry guarantee. All the solar panels and systems we install come with an independent industry warranty. We can guarantee your panels will have a fantastic 90% performance output for 12 years and also assure a further 80% performance output for 25 years!
Want a quote for Solar PV panels? Contact our expert installers YES Renewables.
Our Customers
Judith Hoyle had Solar (PV) Photovoltaic panels installed on her home in York by our subsidiary installation team YES Renewables.
'I was delighted by how smoothly everything went. The team were pleasant, well organised, worked hard and were very professional. The installation was completed in less than a day, there was no mess and in no time I was generating my own electricity. To see the sun come out and the meter start ticking is such a buzz. The solar powered monitor is the icing on the cake! I'm really pleased I decided to go ahead with Solar PV and with YES Renewables.'
